Housing Scam Notification

It has come to our attention that several landlords have been contacted via e-mail by people posing as international students/visiting scholars/faculty. The majority of these e-mails have originated from the UK.

Typically, the scam works like this:

Tenant expresses urgency in completing rental agreement & agrees to send a check/money order for the cost of the rental ASAP.

Tenant sends a counterfeit check/money order for more money than is needed and requests the landlord send them the balance.

Tenant states that they’re planning to use the balance to purchase their plane ticket, furniture or another urgent cause and asks the landlord to send the money ASAP.

Upon initial deposit, the bank accepts the counterfeits but contacts the landlord within a couple of days and notifies them that the check/money order was fake.

IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU, DO NOT SEND OR RETURN MONEY

WHO SHOULD YOU NOTIFY ABOUT FRAUD OR SCAM ATTEMPTS?

If you feel suspicious that a potential tenant may be attempting a scam, request that the bank/post office investigate and/or contact the following: